Liner hanger



March 22, 1938.

LEE-ET ALv LINER HANGER Filed'May 26 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l C. E. LEE ET AL LINER HANGER Filed May 26, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 3 -:IWHIIN l.. Lf.

l of the weight, .of the ce im longitudinal cross section.

patented inet. aa, ieee giusti eerie atraves ma' aaneen can a. ne@ aus' nariey t. mais, nomas. Preis Application May 26, i936, Serial No. @11,817

. (ci. reci) This invention relates to well equipment and relates more particularly to a liner hanger. A general object of this linvention. is to provide a practical, eiective and dependable tool for hanging and retaining a. well liner in a selected position in a well.

When cementingA a liner in a well with the conventional apparatus it is often necessary to place 4 the cement under a high pressure to force it to the bottom of the well and upwardly around the lower end of the liner. The cement under high pressure sometimes washes or raises the liner -from the proper position and spoils the cementing operation. I l5 Another object of this invention is to provide a liner hanger that is operable to securely hold a liner against upward movement as well as downward movement. i

Another object of this invention is to provide a tool for securing or hanging a liner in a well that is adapted to suspend the liner in the selected position and then pose. the weight, or a portion enting string on the liner to hold it against upward-displacement. g5 Another object of this invention is to provide a liner hanger of "the "character mentioned in which the parts or apparatus vfor imposing the weight of the cementing string on the liner may be removed from the well upon completion of the cementing operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide a liner hanger of the character mentioned in which the drill pipe or setting pipe maybe released from the hanger prior to the cementing operations L3.5 whereby the pipe and the hold down tool may be easily withdrawn from the well following the cementing operations by simply raising or pulling the pipe out ofthe well.

v Another object of this invention is to provide a liner hanger of the character mentioned that embodies effective packing means for preventing the cement from passing upwardly in the liner.

Another object of this invention is to provide a liner hanger of the character mentioned that is positive in operation and that is easy to control.

The' various objects and features of our invention will be fully understood from the following detailed description of typical preferred forms and Vapplications of the invention, throughout which description reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which: i

Fig. 1 is 4a'side elevation of the tool provided by the present invention showing it in position in the well and illustrating a portio of the liner in Fig- 2 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical detailed sectionalview taken substantiallyl as indicated by line 2 2 on Fig. i. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal detailed sectional View of the lower portionfoi the tool taken substantially asn indicated by line 3-3 on Fig.l 1. 5 Figs. d and 5 are enlarged transverse detailed sectional views taken as indicated by lines 'ii-d and 5 5, respectively, on Fig. 2. Fig. 6 is an enlarged transverse detailed sectional view taken as indicated byline t-t on Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an enlarged 1a view similar to Fig. 2`showing a slightly modied arrangement of parts. Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary longitudinal detailed sectional view of an alternative construction and Fig. 9 isan enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the lower portion of 15 the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 8.

The tool provided by the present invention inw cludes, generally, a hanger l@ for hanging or suspending a liner L in a well W2, and a hold` down tool li for imposing the weight of a ce 2@ inenting string S on the liner L to hold it against upward displacement.

The hanger it is operable to suspend the liner L from a. casing C set in the well W. The hanger l'includes'a tubular body i2. The body itis g5 adapted to extend through the casing C with substantial clearance' and is removably connected with the string-S. A coupling i3 connects the lower end of the body i2 with the upper end of the liner L. In accordance with the broader as- 3@ pects of the invention various suitable means may be employed for releasably connecting the upper Y, end of theI body I2 with the string S. In theQ drawings we have illustrated what is commonly termed a setting toolv for releasably securing. 35 the body l0 to the string S.

The setting tool comprises a"i'nandrel it and a tubular adapter i5 for receivingthe mandrel it. 'I'he mandrel it is tubular and is threadedon the. lower` end of the string S. The adapter l5 may be directly threaded on the upper end of the body i2 as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 of thedrawings. Grooves i6 are provided inthe interior of the adapter l5 to receive lugs il on the mandrel id. The grooves i6 extend vertically and have'lateral 45 branches i8 between their ends. Entering grooves f It are provided on the interior of the adapter l5 and communicate with the lateral branches it to allow the lugs. l1 to be lentered in and removed from the grooves i andbranches I8. When the 5@ lugs il are in the grooves i 6 the setting tool forms an effective; and dependable connection between the string S andthe body i2 of the hanger.`

The linerha-nge' l0 includes slips 20 for grippingthe interior of the casing C to suspend/the gg 'liner L. The slips 28 have roughened or toothed outer sides and have inclined inner sides. The slips 28 are secured to the upper ends of the spring reins 2I which in turn are secured to a ring 22. The ring 22 surrounds and is shiftable on the body I2. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, inclusive, of the drawings the slips I2 are actuated by cooperation with an inclined abutment or face 23 on the adapter I5. In the optional modification illustrated in Fig. 7 of the drawings the slips 28 are actuated by cooperation with an inclined face 24 of a ring or cone 25 surrounding the body I2.

Means is provided for controlling the slips 28. A ring 26 shiftably surrounds the body I3 some distance below the ring 22. Outwardly bowed leaf springs 21 extend between andare secured to the rings 22 and 26. The springs 21 are adapted to bear outwardly against the interior o the casingC to yieldably resist movement of the slips 28 'in the casing so that downward movement of the body I2 may bring the face 23 into expanding or actuating cooperation with the slips 28. A control latch is preferably provided between the slip ring 22 and the body I2 to prevent premature or unintentional actuation of the slips 28. In the particular construction illustrated in the drawings the slip controlling latch consists of screws or lugs 28 on the body I2 cooperating with bayonet type slots 29 in the ring 22, the lugs 28 initially or normally cooperating with slots 29 to prevent relative longitudinal movement between the body I2 and slips 28. .Suitable partial turning of the string S followed by longitudinal movement of the string releases the lugs 28 from the lateral portions of the slots 29 so that the body I2 may be moved downwardly to effect the actuation of the slips 28. The slips 28 forced outwardly against the, interior of the casing vC by the inclined face 23 may dependably suspend or hang the body I2 and the liner L connected therewith.

The hold-down tool II is connected with the] string S and may be operated or employed to impose the weight, or a portion of the weight, of

the string S on the liner L to prevent the liner from being 'washed" or displaced upwardly. The tool I I is inserted in the liner L and extends through the body I2 of the hanger I8. The tool II includes an elongate tubular section 3l extending longitudinally through the body I2. The upper end of the section 3I may be threaded in the lower end of the mandrel I4. A coupling 32 may be threaded on the lower end of the coupler section 3|. JA nipple or member 33 is threaded in the lower end of the coupling 32. In the form of the invention illustrated in Figs. 1 to 6, in-

elusive, of the drawings the member 33 is provided with an inclined abutment or slip cone 34. In Figs. 8 and9 we have shown a section of tubing 35 connected with the lower end of a member 33' and an adapter 36 on the lower end of the tubing 35. A slip cone 31 engages against the adapter 36. It is to be understood that any number of tubular sections 35 may be employed as found necessary to locate the cone 31 in the desired position in the liner L.

'I'he hold-down tool Il includes slips 38 for gripping the interior of the liner L to transmit the weight of the string S to the liner. The holddown tool Il comprises a tubular body 39 connected to or extending downwardly from the member 33, or, as shown in Figs. 8 and 9, extending downwardly from the adapter 36. A slip ring 48 surrounds the body 38. Spring reins 4I extend upwardly from the ring 48 and carry the slips 38. The slips 38 are toothed to properly grip the interior of the liner L and have inclined inner sides for cooperating with the cone 34, or the cone 31, as the case may be.

Means is provided for controlling the slips 38. A ring 42 surrounds the body 39 at a point below the ring 48. The ring V42 is freely shiftable on the body 39. Outwardiy bowed leaf springs 43 extend between and connect the rings 48 and 42. The springs 43 bear outwardly against the interior of the liner L to yieldingly resist movement of the slips 38 in the liner so that downward movement of the string S relative to the liner L may actuate the slips 38. Latch means normally connect the ring 48 and body 39 to prevent unintentional actuation of the slips 38. The latch means may comprise lugs 44 on the body 39 cooperating with bayonet type slots 45 in the ring 48. The lugs 44 may be released from the bayonet slots 45 by suitable rotational and longitudinal manipulation of the string S so that the string S may be allowed to settle for the purpose of actuating the slips 38. The cone 34 or the cone 31 may actuate the slips 38 against the interior of the liner vL and transmit the weight, or a portion of the weight, of the string S to the liner L through the slips 38 to hold the liner against upward displacement.

The invention includes sealing means or packing means for preventing the upward ow or passage of cement in the liner L. A coupling 46 is provided on the lower end of the body 39 and a packing mandrel 41 is threaded in the lower end of the coupling 46. As shown in Fig. 9 of the drawings, the mandrel 41 may be connected with the coupling 46 by a section 18 and a coupling 1 I. The section 18 may be of any desired length. A socket 48 is provided in the lower end of the mandrel 41 and a lowery packing mandrel 49 is threaded in the socket 48. Each mandrel 41 and 49 carries an inverted annular cup 58. The cup 58 on the' mandrel 41 bears upwardly against the coupling 46, or the coupling 1 I, while the cup 58 on the mandrel 49 bears upwardly against the lower end of the mandrel 41. Packing rings 5I are seated upwardly in the cups 58 and project downwardly and outwardly to seal against the interior of the liner L. 'I'he rings 5I may be formed of rubber or the like and their lower sides are relieved or provided with downwardly flaring sockets 52. The sockets 52 of thel rings 5I are adapted to'receive uid pressure to expand the rings outwardly into sealing contact with the interior of the liner L. Upwardly facing shoulders 53 and 54 are provided on the mandrels 41 and 49, respectively, to assist in retaining the packving rings 5I in position. Rings 55 surround the mandrels 41 and 49' below the packing rings 5I. Flexible wires or bands 56 are embedded in or otherwise secured to the packing rings 5I. 'Ihe lower ends of the wires or bands 56 are secured to the rings 55. The rings 55 are free to move upwardly when the packing rings 5I expand out- 4 wardiy. f

2,111,793 i seal with the interior of the liner L to prevent the packing ring ti in the cup tt. The packing ring ti ilares downwardly and outwardly or is provided with a socket 63 in its lower side adapted to receive fluid under pressure- A free ring 64 surrounds the member 33 below the packing ring ti. Wires or bands 65 are embedded in the ring ti, and have their lower ends secured to the ring tt. In the arrangement illustrated in Figs. 8 and l 9 of the drawingsthe cup 60 oi.' the upper packing unit surrounds themember 33B to bear upwardly against the-coupling 32. In operation the body l2 may be secured to th string S through the medium of the adapter i and the mandrel i4 and the section 3| may be secured to the mandrel IQ as shown in the drawings. The liner is connected with the body l2 by the coupling i3. The assembly may be run into the -well on the lower end ofthe string S to the selected or predetermined position. To actuate the hanger it the string S is turned to free l the lugs 28 for longitudinal or vertical movement in the slots 2t and the string S is moved downwardly or allowed to settle. This downward movement of the string S brings the inclined face 2t, or the inclined face 2d, into actuating cngagement with the slips 20. The springs 2l frictionally engage the casing C to yieldably resist movement of the slips 2t during the downward movement of the body l2 with the string S. The engagement of the slips 2@ with the interior of the casing C provides for the dependable suspension of the body i2 and the liner L carried there` by. It is to be noted that the liner may be suspended in any selected position without providing a shoulder on the wallof the well to carry it. Y

Following the actuation oi the hanger it the string S may be manipulated'to free the lugs it from the grooves it and to remove the lugs upwardly through the grooves i9. When the string S has been disconnected from the body i2 of the hanger it it may be turned and moved longitudinally to release the lugs it from the slots t5.

The string S may then be moved downwardly or allowed to settle to actuate the slips 38. During the downward movement of the string Sand the body 39 the springs dit. frictionally engage the liner L to yieldably resist downward movement of the slipst. lIhus downward movement of. the

- string S brings the cone tt, or the cone 3l', into actuating engagement with the slips 3B. The

cone til, or the'cone il, is adapted to actuate the slips, t@ outwardly into tight gripping engagement with the interior of the liner L and is Ythen adapted to bear'on the-series of slips @il to transmit the weight or a portion of the weight of the stringS tothe liner L. This weight ofthe string s imposed onthe liner L may be suiiigcient to positively prevent upward displacement of .the liner.

rIfhecement is then pumped downwardly through the string S to ficw through the section Si the body 39, and to ultimately discharge from the mandrel t9. The cement may be pumped into the well under sumcientpressure to ow upwardly past the lower end of the liner L to il the well around the liner without danger of raising the liner from the selected proper position.

The weight of the string or the portion of the weight of the string S imposed on the liner L through the slips 38 dependably resists-upward movement of the liner L. In practice sumcient cement is discharged from the lower end. of the mandrei it to now' upwardly to or beyond the upper'end' of the liner so that the liner is, cernented'solid in the well. The expansible lpacking rings ti and ti are operable to dependably cement under pressure from passing .upwardly through or into the liner. The packing rings 5i and 6l are expansible by pressure below them and are effective in preventing the upward passage of cement in the liner L. Upon completion of the cementing operation the string S may be raised to withdraw the tool I l upwardly from the liner L leaving the liner and the hanger ill in the well for the production of the Well. vlis the mandrel i4 has been released from. the adapterv i5 prior to the actuation of the tool lil, the string S carrying the tool il may be raised and withdrawn without releasing any connections, or the l like.

.Having described only typical preferred forms and applications of our invention we do not wish to be limited or restricted to the specific details herein set forth, but wish to reserve to ourselves any variations or modications that may appear to those skilled in the art or fall within the-scope of the following claims. i

Having described our invention, we claim:

` l. Apparatus for arranging a liner in a well comprising, a liner hanger operable to suspend the liner in the selected position in the well, and

a hold down tool for engaging the interior of the liner hanger releasably connected withfthe string and carrying the liner, the liner hanger including means for gripping the well casing to suspend the hner, and a hold down tool connected with the string to extend downwardly .into the liner and operable to impose the weight of the string on the liner, the hold down tool including means for releasably gripping the internal wall of the liner to transmit the weight of the string thereto. l

4. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger including means for gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connected with the string to extend into the liner, and gripping means on said body for gripping the interior -of the liner to transmit the weight, or a portion of the weight, of the string thereto.

5. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a Well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a

releasable connection Abetween the hanger and the string, the hanger including means for gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, andmeans for holding the liner lar body con11ected with the string to extend into the liner and operable to conduct the cement downwardly, gripping means on said body for gripping vthe interior of the liner to impose the weight, or a portion of the weight', oi the` string thereon, d pac betive bojiy 'against upward displacement comprising a tubuand the liner to prevent the upward flow of cement therebetween.

6. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger-including means for gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connected with the string to extend into the liner and operable to conduct the cement downwardly, gripping means carried by the body for gripping the interior of the liner to impose the weight, or a portion of the weight, of the string thereon, and means controlling the said gripping means. f

7. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger including means for gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connected with the string to extend into the liner and operable to conduct the cement downwardly, gripping means carried by the body for gripping the interiorV of the liner to impose the weight, or a portion of the weight, of the string thereon, and means preventing operation of the gripping means releasable by manipulation of the string subsequent to the release of said connection.

8. Apparatus for cementing a linerA in a well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger including meansvfon gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connected with the string to extend into the liner and operable to conduct the cement downwardly, gripping means on said body for gripping the interior of the liner to impose the weight, or a portion of the weight, of the string thereon, and packing means above and below said gripping means for sealing between the body and liner to prevent the upward flow of cement therebetween. f

9. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger including means for gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connectedwith the string to extend into the liner, an inclined abutment on the body, slips i operable by said abutment to grip the liner to transmit the weight of the string thereto, and a control for the slips. y

10. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a Well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger including means for gripping the interior of thewell casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connected with the string to extend into the liner, an inclined abutment on the body, slips operable by said abutment to grip the liner to transmit the weight of the string thereto, and means associated with the slips to resist their longitudinal movement whereby the string may be moved longitudinally to bring the abutment into actuating cooperation with the slips.

11. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger including means for gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connected with the string to extend into the liner, a shiftable cage around the body, slips on the cage, an inclined face on the body for actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the liner to transmit the weight of the string thereto, and means on the cage for resisting movement of the cage in the liner.

12. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a' cementing string, a liner hanger, a releasable connection between the hanger and the string, the hanger including means for gripping the interior of the well casing to suspend the liner, and means for holding the liner against upward displacement comprising a tubular body connected with the string to extend into the liner, a shiftable cage around the body, slips on the cage, an inclined face on the body for actuating the slips into gripping engagement with the liner to transmit the weight of the string thereto, means on the cage for resisting movement of the cage in the liner whereby movement of the body may actuate the slips, and latch means connecting the cage with the body releasable by manipulation of the string.

13. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a cementing string, a mandrel on the lower end of the string, a tubular hanger body carrying the liner, an adapter on the hanger body releasably receiving the mandrel, means on the hanger body for gripping the well casing to suspend the liner, a tubular body secured to the mandrel to extend into the liner and conduct the cement thereto, and means carried by said tubular body for gripping the liner to impose the weight of the string thereon following the release of the mandrel from the adapter.

14. Apparatus for cementing a liner in a well including, a cementing string, a mandrel on the lower end of the string, a 'tubular hanger body carrying the liner, an adapter on the hanger body releasably receiving the mandrel, means on the hanger body for gripping the well casing to suspend the liner, av tubular body secured to the mandrel to extend into the liner and conduct the cement thereto, means carried by said tubular `body for gripping the liner to impose the weigh't of the string thereon following the release of the mandrel from the adapter, and an inverted pac ing cup on the tubular body for sealing with the,

' the cement thereto, means carried by said tubular body for gripping the liner to impose the weight of the string thereon following the release of the mandrel from the adapter, and inverted packing cups on the tubular body above and below the last named means for sealing with the liner.

CARL E. LEE. HARLEY J. CRAIG. 

